- Zilina have won 4 of their last 10 matches in all competitions, drawing 1 and losing 5.
- Katowice have won 1 and drawn 4 of their last 5, which includes a run of 3 consecutive draws.
- Zilina have won 3 and lost 2 of their last 5 home matches in all competitions.
Sides are playing to different beats
MSK Zilina are the more positive side, with a fast, vertical and pressing game that is designed to win the ball high up the pitch and transition quickly before the opponent can reset.
Pavol Stano, who took over on 11 July 2025, is an aggressive coach that likes his side to press hard, and the team have taken no time to form an identity this way. Marko Roginic is Zilina's sharpest edge at present, having scored 2 of their 4 goals in their last 5 competitive matches and providing them with a reliable finisher.
GKS Dospel Katowice are much more of a pragmatic 3-at-the-back side that likes to use the wing-backs to help out in a compact shape. Rafal Gorak has had charge of the team since 3 June 2019 and has had plenty of time to embed his ideas, so they are a tough nut to crack.
Zilina have the edge at home
Katowice's recent form has been impressive in a stubborn kind of way. They have avoided defeat in 8 of their last 10 in all competitions, winning 3, drawing 5 and only losing 2. However, too many of those matches have been draws and they will be frustrated if they only manage another here.
Zilina have been a bit more up and down lately, winning 4, drawing 1, and suffering 5 defeats, but their back-to-back results against HNK Hajduk Split showed some character. Zilina lost 2-0 away in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League Qualification 2026 clash before coming back to win 2-1 at home and this could go the same way.
GKS could nick a goal in Slovakia
Zilina's recent home form of 3 wins and 2 defeats from their last 5 suggests they should have enough to see off Katowice on their own patch, but the visitors could nick a goal to keep it interesting.
Katowice have scored 11 goals away across all competitions, an average of 1.83 per match, but Zilina have also notched eight times at home, averaging 1.60. That should ensure that both teams get on the scoresheet and that is the way to go here, but the home team are the more likely winner, particularly with the extra intensity that they will bring to the pitch in Slovakia, and they are backable at 2.5.
